Boycott Underway over Police Oversight

St. Louis, MO – A threatened boycott of conventions in St. Louis will take place, after all.

The Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression called for the action after city lawmakers failed to set up a police oversight panel by May 1st.

The Coalition says it has asked a number of organizations to cancel or postpone their conventions in St. Louis until the city has a civilian oversight board for the police department.

John Chasnoff, with the Coalition, says some groups that do hold conventions in the area will be picketed. He says they hope to pressure the Board of Aldermen to approve legislation that establishes an oversight panel.

"We want them to know that business in St. Louis really can't go on as usual until we get some effective resolution to this issue," Chasnoff said.

The head of the Convention and Visitors' Bureau says there have been some inquiries about the boycott, but no one has cancelled their plans for St. Louis.